the gender gap

Not Hiring Women? Expect a Call From This CEO

In an interview with CNN, Sam’s Club president and CEO Rosalind Brewer discussed the importance of executives hiring women at the top levels of corporate leadership. “I can tell you that even with myself I have to live it also,” she said, revealing an “interesting” meeting she had with a supplier last weekend.

“We met with a supplier and the entire side of the table was all Caucasian male,” she said. “I decided not to talk about it directly with his folks in the room because there were actually no females, like levels down, so I’m going to place a call to him.”

Attention, suppliers of Sam’s Club: Did you meet with Brewer last weekend? Better take that call.

In 2012, Brewer became the first woman and African-American CEO of a Walmart Stores division (of which Sam’s Club is a part). “My executive team is very diverse, and I make that a priority,” she said. “I demand it within my team. Every now and then you have to nudge your partners and you have to speak up and speak out.”